FA Cup fans in travel warning

Arsenal and Chelsea fans planning to travel to the FA Cup Final on 4 May have been warned by rail companies First Great Western and Railtrack to book their tickets early or risk chaos on the roads.

Despite crucial engineering work being carried out that weekend at Paddington Station and Reading, the companies have doubled the number of trains running on the day of the Cup Final.

Fourteen trains will run on the day of the match carrying about 7,000 fans to the match at Cardiff 's 72,500 capacity Millennium Stadium.

That means more than 60,000 supporters will be travelling to Wales by car. British Transport Police were today drawing up contingency plans to try and ease the pressure on the M4.

But in the meantime First Great Western has set up a FA Cup Final hotline for fans to ring to book their seats early.

A spokeswoman for the rail companies said: "We have doubled the number of trains but it will still be busy and fans should book early to avoid disappointment."

The ticket hotline is: 0845 6024304.

Meanwhile, Manchester United and Arsenal have until Friday to agree on the date of their potentially decisive Premiership fixture at Old Trafford. If they cannot, the Premier League board will have to make a ruling on when the game is to be played.

Originally it was fixed for Wednesday, 8 May in the event of Arsenal reaching the Cup final. But United now want their penultimate domestic match brought forward 24 hours to help with their preparations for the Champions League Final on May 15, should they beat Bayer Leverkusen in the semi-final.

Arsenal have refused to adhere to the switch, however, because of their 4 May Cardiff date, a match which could run into extra-time.

United are not in action that weekend and the London club are unlikely to budge on a match which could decide the destiny of the title.

Liverpool have asked for their match against Blackburn, scheduled for 5 May, to be played on the same date as the United-Arsenal game.